Banga Soup my arc nemesis

Banga soup in Ewere

One man's food they say is another man's poison.

I bet most Deltans and anyone who has ever tasted Banga soup will call for my head as what you are about to read might be considered sacrilegious.

Banga soup is a delicacy best enjoyed in most of the West African countries, and it is made from palm nut extract.

Starch

Imagine my shock when I came across @abenad post on some of the native food Ghanaians eat and I saw Banga soup, she referred to it as palm nut soup and that they eat it with fufu, I went further to confirm if they also eat it with starch and she said no.

So, I'm guessing the starch swallow is only native to the Urhobo tribe of Nigeria and also passed as a borrowed delicacy to other tribes in Nigeria who might find it appealing.

The conversation I had with @abenad was quite intriguing for me, as I realized that indeed us Africans especially in the Western part of the continent, share common ancestry because how best do you explain our similar traits, culture and delicacies?

Did I also mention that the Banga soup Ghanians eat is also prepared with fresh fish? like how we the Urhobos prepare it? Although sometimes we prepare ours with dry fish especially the ones prepared for ceremonies. Other times we make use of other affordable and available proteins like beef, mutton, pork and snail.

A QUICK ONE

Banga soup in Ewere

Just prepare fresh fish banga soup for an Urhobo man then thicken it on fire with Ewere (Native pot), if that man does not will his Soul and make you the custodian of his entire existence make I know wetin cause am.

That is how highly the Urhobos hold our local banga soup delicacy.

It will also interest you to know that even in the North, they do not joke with Banga soup, I one time attended at Urhobo wedding to an Hausa man.

You need to see how his relatives were hustling and fighting for the Banga soup, they refused to eat their own Northern delicacy prepared for them and were all struggling to get a portion of the Banga soup with starch.

I watched in amazement because for a soup I find repulsive yet people are fighting and struggling for it? Wow!

If not for peer pressure what is Banga soup or anything Banga doing in my mouth? This is a response I often give to people who go Oh! but you are Urhobo, why won't you like Banga soup? You are supposed to love it like every other Urhobo person.

Believe me I have tried to like Banga soup but I don't and I can't. Now I have accepted our toxic relationship and just eat it for survival.

Banga rice

Let me also put this out here, that I also hate banga rice but Ironically, I can prepare both delicacies well.

PS

All images are mine and all delicacies prepared by me